SECTION XIX 

 FOODS POISONOUS TO FOWLS 



THE ROSE CHAFER 

 (Macrodactylus Subspinosus Fab.) 



In the spring of the year when the grapes are in bloom, 

 large numbers of the common rose-chafers (rose bugs) often 

 appear to feed upon the blossoms and later attacking the 

 young and developing fruit and leaves of the plant. The 

 beetle is about one-third inch long, of a light brown color 

 and is covered by numerous lighter hairs. It is provided with 

 long, spiny legs. This bug may also be found on roses, from 

 which its common name is derived. It may also be found on 

 other shrubs and upon apple, plum, cherry and peach trees. 

 When numerous and its preferable food scarce, it may attack 

 different grasses and grains. 



The bug passes through the four stages, namely : ova, larva, 

 pupa and adult. 



Lamson has shown that when large numbers are eaten by 

 small chicks death may occur from their poisonous effects in 

 from nine to twenty-four hours. It was found that fifteen 

 to twenty rose chafers were sufficient to kill chicks seven days 

 old in seven days; twenty-five to forty-five proved fatal to 

 chicks twenty-one days old. Chicks over ten weeks old did 

 not die from their effects. 



The symptoms usually appear an hour after the bird eats 

 a large quantity of these bugs. The first symptoms noted 

 are those of a dozing attitude, the bird becomes Aveak, and 

 finally prostrate and is unable to w^alk. Some may recover 

 from the poison. Occasionally convulsions are noted in the 

 dying chick. The poison appears to be a neuro-toxin. Post 

 mortem does not reveal any lesions. 



Prophylactic treatment consists of keeping the young chicks 

 away from parts of the premises that are infested by these 



bugs. 



ARSENICAL POISONING 



Arsenical poisoning may occur from the birds drinking 

 sprav mixtures containing paris green or other arsenical com- 

 pounds, from eating rat poison, etc. Cases have been brought 

 to our attention where birds had been poisoned by eating 

 grasshoppers. The grasshoppers had been given arsenic in 



